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John Flavel Willis

 Also spelled Willys, Wyllis, Wyllys

 

Born: 2/20/1784 Canaan, NH

 

Parents: Nathan Willis and Elizabeth Spear

 

Siblings: Samuel (9/16/1781, Bridgewater, MA),  Nathan (2/26/1786 Norwich, VT),  Roswell (1794 Norwich, VT) [note: Roswell's name was obtained from family history sheet in Parishville, NY]

 

Marriage:

#1: to Sarah “Sally” Dana (6/23/1805-1842), Lebanon, NH (groom is listed as from Norwich, VT, bride from Lebanon NH) No parents names are listed on marriage certificate.   Norwich VT and Lebanon NH both sit on the county lines of their state, 6-8 miles apart from each other.

 

#2: to Lucy Whitney Smith (1800-1847), died Parishville, NY, buried Riverview Cemetery

 

Children with wife #1: Johanna (1806-1876),  Austin (1809-1861),  Sally (1811-1894),  Fanny (1813-1889),  John F, (1815-1901),  National B. (1817-1826),  Hannah (1819-?),  Charles Ball Willis (1822-1907),  Betsey (1824-?)

 

Death: 4/13/1856, Parishville, NY; buried Riverview Cemetery, Parishville NY. Listed as “one of the early settlers of West Parishville.”

A note about Riverview Cemetery: Riverview Cemetery is situated in the west part of the township of Parishville, known as Willisville. Willisville was named after early settlers, Deacon Charles Willis and John Willis .  There was necessity of a burying ground for this section of Willisville and a shooting contest was organized among the farmers of that section with the understanding that the bounty money, if the wolf was secured, should be devoted to the purchase of land for a burying ground. The wolf was killed by Moses Olmstead, son of Jabez and Martha Chapman Olmstead.  On Jan. 31, 1826, the group purchased one acre of land for $10. In the year 1886, another acre of land was purchased to enlarge the plot for $20.  On Dec. 14, 1912, The Riverview Cemetery Association was organized, and incorporated on Jan. 8, 1913. At that time the tax on the lots were $.75 a year. Money or work were both acceptable. During the years it has been very well taken care of, it’s a very peaceful setting, with trees and in the distance, one can hear the steady roar of the Racket River as it comes over the dam at Brown’s Bridge power house.

 

Census:

1810: John Willis, Grafton Co, NH, Hanover:
1 male under 10 (Austin), 1 male 26-44 (John), 1 female <10 (Johanna), 1 female 26-44 (Sally)
lives next to Samuel and Nathan Willis

 

1820: Not located in St. Lawrence Co NY; son Charles Ball Willis’ obituary states  he and his family came from NH by oxen team when he was three years old, which would have been about 1825. The couple may have been living with his parents, however Nathan Willis is not listed in Jebanon, NH.

1830 US Census, NY, St. Lawrence Co, Parishville
John Wyllys: 1 male 5-10 (Charles), 1 male 10-15 (John Jr), 2 males 20-30 (Austin & ?), 1 male 40-50 (John Sr.), 1 female 5-10 (Betsey), 1 female 10-15 (Hannah), 1 female 15-20 (Sally), 1 female 40-50 (Sally)

1840 US Census, NY, St. Lawrence Co, Parishville
John F. Willis: 1 male 15-20, 2 males 20-30, 1 male 30-40, 2 males 50-60 (one is John), 2 females 15-20 (Fanny),  2 females 20-30, 1 female 50-60 (Sarah/Sally)

1850 US Census, NY, St. Lawrence Co, Parishville:
John F. Willis, age 65, farmer, born Mass
George F. Willis, age 5, born NY

 

Genealogy

 ”History of the early settlement of Bridgewater in Plymouth County,  Massachusetts”, printed in 1840

Generation 

1. Willis, John, Deacon, married Experience Byram; died 1712

 

2. Comfort Willis, issue of John, settled in Bridgewater, near Comfort’s Bridge; served as a trooper in Philip’s war

 

3. Samuel Willis, issue of Comfort, Judge of C.C.P. for Bristol Co.; married, perhaps May 23, 1700, Experience Newell of Roxbury; residence Dartmouth

 

4. Samuel Willis, issue of Samuel, married 1747, Susanna Snell

 

5. Nathan Willis, issue of Samuel, born November 18, 1750; married Apr. 1, 1779, in Bridgewater, MA, Elizabeth Spear (1753 - May 14, 1822); died June 19, 1832.  Both are buried in Goose Pond Cemetery near Hanover, N.H

 

6.  John F. Willis, issue of Nathan, born Feb. 20, 1784, Canaan, N.H.; died April 13, 1856, Parishville, N.Y.

Complete genealogy: WILLIS  FIRST GENERATION John Willis, Deacon, was a Puritan of distinction and great respectability.  He first appears in 1637, at Duxbury, Mass., where he held several town offices, and owned a considerable estate.  In 1650, he was made one of the grantees of the great town of Bridgewater, to which he removed the next year, when he was elected her first representative to the General Court of Plymouth and by annual elections continued a member of that body for 25 years ensuing.  His standing in the church, and agency in ecclesiastical interests, may be inferred from his long service as deacon.  He married Hannah _____; and 2d, Elizabeth (Hodgkin) Palmer; sold his place in Duxbury in 1657; made his last will in 1692, which was proved in 1693.   

 

SECOND GENERATION - ISSUE OF JOHN 1.         John, Deacon, married Experience Byram; died 17122.         Nathaniel, married Lydia _____; died 1716          3.         Joseph, married _____ Lincoln4.         Comfort, settled in Bridgewater, near Comfort’s Bridge; served as a trooper in Philip’s war5.         Benjamin, born 1657, married S. Whitman; died May 12, 16966.          

 

THIRD GENERATION - ISSUE OF COMFORT 1.         Samuel, Judge of C.C.P. for Bristol Co.; married, perhaps May 23, 1700, Experience Newell of Roxbury; residence Dartmouth2.         Joshua, married 1707, Experience Barbour; died 17583.         Isaac, Deacon, married Mary _____   

 

FOURTH GENERATION - ISSUE OF SAMUEL 1.         Eliakim, Rev., A.M., born 1714; graduated 1735; ordained Oct. 25, 1752, at Malden; married at Boston, Mar 1, 1770, Susannah Swanton; died Mar. 14, 18012.         Jirah, Ens. under Gen. Winslow, at Annapolis, N.S. 1755, and was discharged at his request, July 1, 17553.         Samuel, married 1747, Susanna Snell4.         Ebenezer5.         Benjamin, married Ruth _____  

 

 FIFTH GENERATION - ISSUE OF SAMUEL 1.         Nathan, born November 18, 1750; married Apr. 1, 1779, in Bridgewater, MA, Elizabeth Spear (1753 - May 14, 1822); died June 19, 1832.  Both are buried in Goose Pond Cemetery near Hanover, N.H.2.         Susannah, born 17543.         Lydia, born 1756; married 1775, Daniel Lathrop, Jr.4.         Eliakim, born 17585.         Samuel, born 17606.         Zebulun, born 1762; married Susanna Bartlett of Carver7.         Silence, born 1765; married 1784, Enoch Monk   

 

SIXTH GENERATION - ISSUE OF NATHAN 1.         Samuel, born September 16, 1781, Bridgewater, Mass.; died Parishville, N.Y.2.         John F., born Feb. 20, 1784, Canaan, N.H.; died April 13, 1856, Parishville, N.Y.3.         Nathan, born February 26, 1786, Norwich, Vermont; married 1815, Betsy Amelia Bissell (Feb. 8, 1798 - Mar. 23, 1825).  In 1827, he married Frances Heyden Draper (Dec. 16, 1804 - Sept. 5, 1887), daughter of Seth Draper.  Nathan died January 9, 1865 in Alden, N.Y.; buried in Lancaster Rural Cemetery, Lancaster, Erie County, N.Y. “In 1811, at age twenty-five, Nathan came alone to Alden, Erie County, N.Y.  From the Holland Land Company, he obtained 248 acres on what is now U.S. 20, about 18 miles east of Buffalo.  With others, he settled the hamlet of Town Line. Employing Indians from the Buffalo Creek Reservation, which abutted the rear of his property, he cleared the land and farmed the fertile acres. The warranty deed to the land is dated Jan. 14, 1825.  It was recorded in Erie County, January 22, 1827, in Liber 8 of Deeds at page 162.  A consideration of $148.25 is mentioned. Taking advantage of the abundant supply of wood and the natural water power from Cayuga Creek which flowed along his property’s rear boundary, he dug a millrace, built a sawmill, and went into the lumber business.  Settlers were flocking into the area and clearing and building were progressing at a rapid pace.  That, and the need to rebuild the Niagara Frontier after the devastation of the War of 1812, contributed to an excellent market for his product, and the business thrived. Taking an active part in community development, he held several town offices.  As early as the first Alden town meeting, he was elected a commissioner of highways.  He was elected town supervisor for the years 1849, 1852, 1853, and 1857, serving on committees as a member of the Board of Supervisors of Erie County.  A founding member of the Methodist Church of West Alden, he served the church as a trustee.  The sturdy federal style house he completed in 1828 was occupied by Willises and Websters, the latter the family of his daughter, Mary Cecelia, and John Webster VII, until 1942.  The property has been well maintained and is in excellent condition.  The house is now a multiple dwelling and the barn has been converted to a house which includes an inside swimming pool in the space once occupied by the horse stable.     

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